Overview

In May 2022, the Home Office released a safeguarding framework to be applied when providing refugee and asylum support, detailing key guidance and strategies for protecting these at-risk groups from harm. Safeguarding refugees and asylum seekers encompasses a broad range of existing and emerging challenges; providing safe and secure housing, supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and preventing abuse and exploitation are just some of the key areas that must be considered. Through sharing best practice in creating safe environments and developing robust safeguarding policies, stakeholders can work together to successfully protect all refugees and asylum seekers.

  • In 2022, the UK received double the number of asylum applications from 2019, according to UNHCR
  • The UK received 4,081 asylum applications from unaccompanied children in 2021 according to the Refugee Council
  • According to the Refugee Council, hundreds of refugee children are being mistakenly judged as adults, leaving them at risk of abuse and neglect
  • According to Breaking Barriers, over 23,000 asylum seekers were placed in detention centres in 2022

Join us at The Safeguarding Refugees and Asylum Seekers Conference 2023 to hear the latest policies and strategies from experts across the public and voluntary sector in improving safeguarding policies and procedures. You will hear best practice case studies covering a range of key topics, including safeguarding female refugees, tackling exploitation and abuse and providing accessible healthcare to asylum seekers and refugees. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the public and voluntary sector to share common challenges in communicating key safeguarding procedures to refugees and asylum seekers.

Why Attend:

✓ Hear the latest policies and strategies for implementing and delivering successful safeguarding policies for refugees and asylum seekers
✓ Best practice examples of partnership working between councils, charities, housing associations, schools and NHS Trusts
✓ Engage with selected case studies addressing key challenges including supporting refugees to access healthcare and protecting UASC
✓ Network with speakers and senior colleagues from across the public and voluntary sector
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:

This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.

Key benefits include:

 ✓100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors including Local Government, and ALL CPD certified

 ✓Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)

 ✓Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences

 ✓Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear

 ✓Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate

 ✓Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time

 ✓30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

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Agenda

  • Online Registration

  • Chair’s Opening Remarks

    Vittorio Bruni, DPhil in Migration Studies, University of Oxford (CONFIRMED)

  • Keynote: Keeping Refugees Safe: Key Insights and Policy Updates

    Steve Valdez-Symmonds, Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director, Amnesty International (CONFIRMED)

  • Keynote: Working in Partnership with Stakeholders to Safeguard Refugees and Asylum Seekers

    Debbie Busler, Head of Safeguarding, British Red Cross (CONFIRMED)

    Kayleigh Thornton, Migration Safeguarding Specialist (Ukraine), British Red Cross (CONFIRMED)

  • Keynote: Providing Accessible and Inclusive Healthcare for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

    • Outlining refugee’s barriers to healthcare and detailing strategies to improve inclusivity in NHS trusts
    • Forming partnerships with local safeguarding professionals to seek advice and support for any concerns
    • Understanding and addressing the complex health needs of refugees and asylum seekers to safeguard them from further harms
    • Providing a person-centred approach to support refugees and asylum seekers experiencing PTSD
    • Guidance on upskilling frontline staff to enable them to provide trauma-informed care and effectively safeguard refugees

    Kenny Gibson, National Head of Safeguarding, NHS England (CONFIRMED)

  • Questions and Answers

  • Comfort Break

  • Case Study: Providing Specialised Safeguarding Support to Female Refugees and Asylum Seekers

    • Working with refugee women to create policies that support their needs and improve understanding of their unique experiences of displacement
    • Creating support networks for asylum seeking women to prevent isolation and create a sense of community
    • Providing targeted outreach programmes and multi-agency drop ins to safeguard women escaping abuse or conflict
    • Facilitating access to legal support and welfare advice to enable women to navigate the complex asylum system and prevent risk of homelessness
    • Protecting women from domestic and sexual abuse: preventing harm and providing avenues to safety

    Comfort Etim, Director, Refugee Women Connect (CONFIRMED)

  • Case Study: Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach to Safeguarding Refugee Children

    • Fostering strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure that education provision meets the needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
    • Developing multi-lingual resources to support refugee students’ integration and facilitate their learning
    • Strategies for breaking communication barriers and discussing sensitive issues between teachers, parents and children
    • Best practice strategies for protecting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from bullying and abuse
    • Engaging with the parents of refugee children to create a comprehensive approach to safeguarding

    Philip Taylor, Deputy Head, Broadoak School Manchester (CONFIRMED)

  • Case Study: Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers into Safe, Secure Housing

    • Creating engagement groups to centre the refugee voice and tailor improvements to housing standards and services
    • Forming partnerships with external organisations to provide holistic, wrap-around care to refugees seeking accommodation
    • Providing residents with work placements and training to help them find employment
    • Training staff to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns with refugee and asylum seeking residents
    • The People’s Place: creating safe environments for refugees and local communities to collaborate and seek support

    Fuad Mahamed, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director to the Board, Ashley Community and Housing Ltd (CONFIRMED)

  • Questions and Answers

  • Lunch

  • Breakout Networking: Overcoming Challenges and Sharing Successes in Communicating Safeguarding Support to Refugees

    This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in communicating safeguarding procedures and policies to refugees and asylum seekers, allowing you to share your experiences and best practice.

  • Panel: Multi-agency Approaches to Protect Refugees from Exploitation and Abuse  

    • Tools for identifying and forming multi-agency safeguarding partnerships and hubs locally to keep refugees safe
    • Creating clear referral pathways across key stakeholders to report refugees and asylum seekers at risk of abuse or exploitation and to ensure cases are escalated to the right people
    • Techniques for effectively co-ordinating wrap-around care for refugees who have experienced abuse
    • Guidance for ensuring accountability while working collaboratively to prevent anyone from falling through the gaps

    Elizabeth Owen, Lead Public Health Strategist, Newham Council (CONFIRMED)

    Antony Douglas CBE, Independent Chair, Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (CONFIRMED)

    Sohail Jannesari, Post-Doctoral Researcher, King’s College London (CONFIRMED)

  • Chair’s Summary and Close

    *Programme subject to change

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Who Should Attend

Who Should Attend?

This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors. Delegates interested in this event will be people who work to safeguard refugees.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

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Sponsorship

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers
✓ Meet your target audience in the Sector
✓ Listen and Learn from leading industry experts across the Sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

Strategic Headline Sponsor:

  • 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
  • 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
  • Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
  • Post show inclusion on presentation email
  • Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
  • A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
  • 5 Delegate Conference Passes
  • 1 Speaker Pass

Key Supporter Package:

  • 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
  • Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
  • A4 Insert or Chair Drop
  • 1 Speaker Pass
  • 2 Delegate Conference Passes

Exhibition Stand:

  • 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
  • Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
  • Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
  • 2 Delegate Conference Passes
  • 1 Stand Manager Pass

Insert or Chair Drop:

  • 1 Delegate Conference Pass
  • A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team on 0330 0584 285, or sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.

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Pricing
  • Public Sector Rate: 449.00+VAT
  • Voluntary Sector Rate: 379.00+VAT
  • Private Sector Rate: 649.00+VAT